Green work places with biophilic design

As we become more commercial and prone to spending less time with nature, our physiological and psychological health tends to suffer. As a result, architecture has now evolved to bring us closer to nature. Biophilic design aims to increase one’s primal connectivity to nature which provides health, environmental and economic advantages even for an artificial environment. One of the latest trends of this last year, this is a successful strategy combining outdoor and indoor spaces. The use of scattered vegetation, dynamic lighting, natural scents, local materials, and shelter brings nature itself into our workplaces.

Often misconceived as a ‘trend of adding plants everywhere’, it is often more complex than that. ‘Biophilic’ involves strategic planning to create a green environment of rejuvenation, mindfulness and emotional well-being. This enables staff to work, revitalize and collaborate to enjoy a more productive atmosphere. The elements of the natural environment include natural light, plants, animals, air, fire, moss, seashells, rocks, and landscape – all of which can be converted into beautiful office designs.

What are the latest trends in biophilic designs in 2019?

Though biophilia is a trend in itself, there are several ways to execute one’s love for nature in the workspace. Greenery and natural patterns can easily be integrated into architecture as has been done by some of the biggest names in today’s world – namely, Google, OVH and Dropbox, to name a few. All you have to do is get yourself the best interior designmagazine subscription to be looped into these trends.

·         Green installations

Symbolizing harmony, growth, fertility, and freshness, the right use of green can truly replenish tired energy levels. Unlike the past as a secondary aesthetic choice, green walls and dividers now participate in pre-construction discussions as well. Common examples include the construction of artificial and natural green walls, planters and hanging plants to promote productivity, oxygen and concentration levels in the environment. Plant partitions can be transformed to create private or collaborative spaces at minimal cost and intrusion.

Example: Fosbury& Sons, a leading office workspace solutions sector, lives up to its love for the green. Otherwise, minimalist design features, such as potted plants placed near lobbies and desks, cheer up the atmosphere and motivate people to perform their best.

·         Flooring

The trend in modern flowing is to recreate the qualities of the natural environment through the use of wood, natural stone, and forest floors. As with any architectural trend, the ultimate goal is to bring in functionality, sustainability, and visual appeal through the right blend of material and color. Arrange for comfortable seating and table arrangements in outdoor spaces such as balconies, verandas, and gardens to bring in the fresh air and light. As a result, your staff enjoys greater productivity, creativity, and well-being.

·         Natural lighting

Natural lighting and landscapes have a tremendously positive impact on employees, and architects have tried to incorporate the same as much as possible. The use of large windows, circadian lighting and skylights are a great way to welcome the sunshine, while biodynamic artificial lighting does a great job of imitating the same. It impersonates natural sunlight conditions, which helps in regulating the human body’s inherent circadian rhythm. Humans have evolved to process light that falls from above, which stimulates our non-visual light sense. Last but not least, natural light leads to better stress management and higher sleep levels. Outdoor spaces can have designated seating areas where employees can work in fresh light and air, promoting creativity.

Example: Drop box’s lounge area features a blend of monochromatic gray and pops of greenery through shadows, plants, and fireplaces to create a minimalist and stimulating atmosphere.

·         Water

Water is one of those elements that infuse life into an architectural structure through its rhythmic sound. Medical studies have discovered that proximity to water can lower the heart rate and blood pressure, and improve memory retention and stress. Due to its tranquil properties, water can instill a sense of balance and renewal in one’s mind. The most common uses of water in architecture can be seen in decorative ponds, water walls, and fountains.

·         Wood

One of the most versatile and biophilically-designed construction elements, wood is the perfect choice of material when it comes to wall coverings, structural elements or flooring. The natural texture of wood brings in a calming and motivating effect, and you have several options to choose from. Reclaimed timber tends to give a more homely feeling to office spaces, yet cutting back on the environmental damage. Inclusion of other natural elements such as nature paintings and biomorphic patterns can relieve stress, instills order and enhances our connection with nature even when it is not possible to renovate.

Example: The cloud computing big shot OVH uses lighter-colored wood to complement the natural sunlight and plants here and there. It provides an invigorating space for both working and collaborating due to its modern yet cozy appeal.

·         Technology in biophilic design

Though the biophilic design has always been kept strictly unadulterated, technology does have its contribution to share. Thus, the use of technological advancement is a combination of nature’s random diversity and human beings’ angular rigidity yet a desire to adapt according to modern times. Dynamic glass gradually changes from transparent to opaque to bring in natural light, yet protect people against bright glare, heat and UV rays. It boosts the staff’s mood to a great extent and promotes productivity, and reduces costs and energy consumption as a bonus.

As a conclusion, it’s safe to say that biophilic design has won over several people’s hearts due to its ‘back-to-nature’ concept. Take a leaf (pun intended) out of your favorite interior designer’s book and liven up your office spaces, your staff will thank you for it!

LUXURY FOR EVERYONE

Every house has a furniture set that makes it feel like home. Wouldn’t it be nice, though, if a piece of luxury could be incorporated into this? The popular definition of luxury goods is elements that are made of the best quality material by skilled craftsmen. In addition, luxury goods in many European countries are also defined by their sustainability and environmental friendliness. This makes them more valuable and hence they become the choice of a certain class. They are exclusively bought by those who have a status symbol to flaunt and those who have a taste for aestheticism and durability. Symbolizing the rapidly-improving standards of urban living, they add that lavish touch to both residential and commercial establishments as is obvious to anyone leafing through the top 10 home decormagazines.

The major factors behind the sale of luxury furniture can be linked to the branding and positioning of such products internationally, along with the impact of globalization and expanding infrastructural investments, which makes it attractive to import them for Indian buyers. Chosen carefully, they can last for years and offer great conversation starting points. However, when it comes down to the furniture market in India in general, most of the sector is unorganized. This may change with the middle-class segment upgrading the overall quality of its consumption.

The emergence of middle-class buyers

Though luxury furniture has traditionally been associated with the affluent, the middle-class sector is ready to improve their living standards as well. Thanks to safe online bill payment and EMI alternatives, a large number of consumers can thus pay for their products in installments. Buyers are aware of the traps posed by “cheaper” alternatives and are willing to pay a little more to buy something that lasts.

Eco-friendly choices

In terms of the current trends in luxury furniture, it is commonly seen that eco-friendly options are preferred among the young urban generation. The biggest reason behind this could be its organic nature. People are sensitive to the cost the environment pays for their lifestyle and often opt for materials accordingly. Common examples may include luxury furniture using North American hardwood and bamboo that emit fewer toxins and promote a cleaner environment.

Multi-purpose furniture

Luxury furniture is not just limited to dense, space-devouring sofas anymore. Buyers these days are increasingly choosing multipurpose furniture made of wood, metal, glass, leather or even plastic to maximize utility. Perfect for small spaces, modular furniture that can be easily folded up and put away is gaining traction. These are quite useful in today’s world with an increasing number of single-person or two-people households.

Modern furniture

Keeping in with the demand for technologically-advanced models, contemporary furniture has been in vogue. Freestanding desks, console tables, director’s chairs, coffee table, and ready-to-assemble furniture give a chic and fun look to every space. They work well for both residential and commercial sectors, inviting sleek modernity to the area.

Thus, these are the current trends in the luxury furniture space. Have a look at the best home decorating magazines, choose your pieces wisely, and start a furniture collection that will add to your living style and become an expression of you.

Play with your home

We live in a continuously changing world, where one of the shortest-lived entities is “trends”. With home decor and interiors, these are so short-lived and evolving that it becomes a task to do up space. But with a little bit of information and by making a few small changes, one can do a lot to update one’s home. If we stick to the rule of minuscule changes, we don’t have to worry about trends, their seasons and comebacks.

When you open some of the best home decorating magazines, you will realize that the temptation of these trends is too strong to overlook. Let’s find out some of the trending styles.

The art of abstract

From geometric shapes to lines and random patterns to blocks, the abstract look in the modern age is all about being brave enough to experiment and being lively. Choosing this form on cushions, rugs, wallpapers, tiles, furnishings, will yield an instant pop to a setting. And, because of this trend, Terrazzo is back with its marble-granite-quartz abstract look. Used as flooring or upon décor items, the material is gaining maximum eyeballs.

Go Indigo

Beloved of fusionist as this color is getting all the attention in the interior design segment too. Again, right from bedding to curtains to wallpaper to sofas to lamps and rugs, use this color in different shades and patterns and create a highly-stylized sense of chic.

The organic streak   

                                    

Furniture and décor made out of natural wood, coconut shells, shells, cane, jute, straw, and other natural material give an earthy and raw look to space. Not only is that interiors with such materials also light and minimalistic.

High ceilings

If you have a high ceiling, forget about stunting it with a false ceiling. For a room to look spacious, and for space to look spectacular, and for the trendiest look, go for high ceilings. Explore from a range of options like wood-paneled, exposed wooden beams, wallpapered or bold tiles and there you go, you have a ceiling that will make a statement and compliment all the time you spend doing up the rest of your home.

Do it with mirrors

Decorative mirrors are another way of making a small area look spacious. Not only that, but they also add brightness to a setting. And, since the major portion of the mirror will reflect the décor of a room, the placement of the mirror becomes crucial. This is worth paying a little extra attention to.

Add warmth with rugs

On the floor, as throws over a bed or a sofa, as a wall piece on the wall, the ways one can use a rug are endless if one is creative. Available in different sizes, materials, patterns, and designs, these are amongst the easiest ways to style a home.

All you have to do is scroll through the top 10 home decor magazines, you will be able to read and see things that are trending and apply them to some classic pieces in your home.

When it comes to interior design, follows your instincts

When it comes to interior design, it isn’t a mandate to follow trends, it is also about instincts and feasibility. If we combine all three, we can actually come up with some of the coolest designs that are also easy to materialize.

Scrolling through some top interior design magazines, one will know that trends are temporary and that in the end, it is the instincts that survive.

The trending color: Yell for yellow

The color gives the right amount of pop to any setting. Don’t go out and out with the color, try its hues and shades, try using it in selective pieces, maybe one of the sofas or one of the drapes can be yellow paired with other neutral shades, to achieve a vibrant look. Explorations for shades of yellow and tones of the jewel are popular as these give an instant makeover.

Sustainable is successful

The trend says to go natural, be conscious, and use products that can be reused and recycled. Using fewer plastics is one way to go about it. People are also using handmade, textile and macramé furniture and accessories.

The velvet vogue

Velvet is one material that is never enough, the more the better, but it has to be used in a way that complements the entire set rather than being an eye-catching piece. No matter what shade you choose, the velvet will always add a touch of warmth. And no matter in what piece you choose, from a sofa to a bedside rug, the velvet will always add oodles of effortless glamour.

Inspired from nature

Who doesn’t love floral, its vintage and chic? And it isn’t limited to that, we also have a trend called leafy.  Also, we have celestial designs that add a sense of ambition and get-up-and-do-it attitude to any setting. Be it any design, it’s all about bringing nature inside.

Saying it with words

Right from walls, to cushions and pillows, to candles, to storage jars, to rugs, everything has something to say these days. Things are getting sloganized, and hence making a presence and conversation with our space and setting.

Whether you are doing a renovation or maybe just redoing a corner, this list of trends covers all spaces, from kitchens to the restrooms. But it totally makes sense, if you are still perplexed about incorporating any of it in your home. In that case, subscribing to one of the well-known and bestinterior design magazines in the A+D industry, such as IFJ, will come in handy to educate you more.

Essential Design Trends

Whether it’s fresh or a comeback, every year brings a set of interior design trends essential to not just a designer doing your house, but to the resident or owner as well. New trends are discovered and liked every year, some trends are a mix of old and new, and some are simply comebacks because some styles are evergreen. Let’s look at some trends that have been a hit in top interior design magazines this year.

The Extreme: Minimalism is over, it is all about richness. This can be achieved by eclectic designs and interiors, having fun and doing experiments with every object and corner of the space. Start and try by adding graphic patterns or bold, metal accessories or having three to four different colors and finishes. But no matter what you experiment with, remember to maintain visual peace so that nothing appears exaggerated.

Hello Tin: For those who are willing to indulge in gutsy experiments, try using tin panels in your décor. They are antique, easy and reasonable, and stylish.

Statement Time: Do more with ceilings and floors, make them bold, make them geometrical, and make them patterned. Or, try painted tiles for a part of the floor or ceiling, they are inexpensive and they give an instant makeover.

Go bold with plants: Doesn’t a palm bush in one corner of your living room add the right amount of freshness? Yes, it does. Now, it’s time to go big and bold with the green and bring it inside. Of course, the right kind of plant that can survive indoors too, and has to be chosen accordingly.

Spaces that multi-function: This can be achieved through multi-functional furniture that serves more than one purpose in space. For, say, a diwan with a backrest that can be used for both an office space and a guest room in your house. The idea is to innovate. Or a nook in the kitchen area with a counter for both meals and tasks.

Should be wood: Never going out of style, in fact, it is following us right into our bathrooms. From kitchen to restrooms, use of wood is increasing for one simple reason: to connect us with nature. A lot of other materials can be combined with wood, like stone, granite or marble for an added earthy feel.

Sustainable Interiors: Another way of being close to nature, apart from the use of wooden surfaces and bold plants, is to opt for recycled décor pieces. Decorative items made out of jute, rugs, succulent plants, rope or made out of the junk we have at home, look cool and earthy.

The Mix: It’s all about the right mix. There is no rule that says leather cannot be combined with velvet, it just has to be in the right place and in the right furniture piece. Talking about the right mix, what’s also popular is terrazzo, a mix of marble, glass, and granite. Not just for flooring, these days, terrazzo is also used for countertops, furniture, and as wallpaper.

Having listed some of the best interior design magazines styles, you can also visit IndexFairs where the top exhibitors showcase the latest of the latest.

DO MORE WITH LESS

Decorating a home sounds attractive but, simultaneously, there are many other things to consider. The first thought is where to start from and what to start with. We end up going through the best home decorating magazines and may still find ourselves confused.

What transpires next is a test of imagination and creativity. The next phase is where imagination clashes with personal style and feasibility. And last but not least, money matters start sinking in. But what if you do more with less? Let’s find out how:

A side table on the side

We aren’t talking about the regular side tables, any piece of storage or ottoman or pouffe or even an old chair can make up for it. Side tables are now multi-use units for storage, display, as lighting corners and may be used for sitting as well.

Fill the wall

If the walking area is compact, you may want to deck your house by doing up the walls. And, with walls, the options are almost endless. They are not only limited to decorating. One can add or hang storage and display units on the wall.  One can start by using a bright shade to paint, or painting a bold mural on the wall. Try hanging colorful plates or ornamental mirrors. Frame a huge cut out of some luxurious textile like silk, or frame a monochrome picture of yourself in a vintage frame. Either add shelves or mount some artificial plants to utilize every corner a wall has to offer. Or just hang some hooks and pile on the stuff you see lying around, right from hats to scarfs to umbrellas.

Welcome the outdoors

Wicker or cane furniture that is most common for the garden areas, can also spruce up space inside. They occupy less space and look uncluttered and pleasing to the eye. Also, include succulent plants for a fresher and natural look.

Magnify the interiors

If you own a frame, a vase, a unit, a holder, etc.in the same color or shade, place them all together to accentuate any space. And not only wall mirrors, dimension and spaciousness can be added with floor-length mirrors too.

Catchy entrance

Apply the rule of the first impression is the last impression, and decorate your entrance, either with a slim console with a planter on top or a wall painting, and voila, you have yourself a brand new space.

Throwing the throws

Variable size cushions bolster, and rugs in every room of the house can change the whole feel. Rugs can also define boundaries and spaces; you can have a cozy coffee corner to yourself if you place a rug beside the living room.

Doing up space isn’t so difficult or expensive, after all. You can find these tips and in the top 10 home decor magazines both online and offline.